Is it Time to Buy a Children's Digital Camera For Your Budding Photographer?

Digital cameras are everywhere today. Almost everyone has one in some form or other. Even if they do not have a separate digital camera, they probably have one in their phone, unless the phone is a true dinosaur, I don't think they even make phones these days without a camera. So with all the digital cameras everywhere, it's only natural to wonder if you should be teaching your child how to use one.

A lot of people buy a digital camera for their children just to use as a toy. And this is not such a bad idea. When a child has a camera of their own it helps to make them feel grown up, and teaches them a small measure of responsibility. Not only that, but it can help with their sense of play, and it will help teach them hand/eye coordination.

Some kids, just like adults, actually do have a natural photographers eye. These people, whether adults or children, just have a natural aptitude for looking through a lens and framing a picture-perfect photo every time. If you have a child like that, who also enjoys taking pictures, it might be a good idea to help develop that aptitude. I am not talking about forced learning here, just an opportunity to be able to work with something that you are naturally good at.

So, you may have a small child, and you are wondering if maybe they are too young for a camera? I really don't believe that there is any age at which they are too young. Now granted, if they are only a year old they certainly are not going to be able to take a picture without pure luck. They will, however, enjoy the bright colors and large knobs that are typical of the children's digital camera. Children as young as two years old, although three is the more common age, are able to take photos that are certainly worth looking at. And, since they are digital you don't have to pay anything for developing the pictures, only to print the ones that you, or your child, actually like.

So what should you look for when you were looking at children's digital cameras? Well there are a couple of different things that you should keep in mind. Number one in my book, is that children are notoriously hard on things, so you'll want to get one that is fairly indestructible. Even though they do not cost a lot of money, you don't want to have to run out and buy a new one every couple of months. Preferably, you will be able to buy one for the appropriate age group that they are at now, and it will last them until they have reached the next age level.

If your child is very young, besides buying an indestructible camera, you'll probably want to buy one that is brightly colored, and in addition has a large viewfinder and large buttons. Small children have not yet developed their hand eye coordination to be able to maneuver the smaller buttons. And all children love brightly colored things. You may think that a small child would do better with a small camera, however, that is not true. They still have trouble grasping small objects.

As far as quality goes, for the very young I do not think of a lot of money needs to be spent on high resolution cameras, but you will want to buy something that has enough resolution that when they do capture a good picture you are able to get a print from it. I would recommend something with at least five megapixels. You will also want to find something that preferably has a rechargeable battery to it, so that you are not constantly having to purchase new batteries, as digital cameras eat up batteries fairly quickly.

As your child gets a little bit older, you will want to upgrade their camera if they are enjoying having one. Over time, the cost of the higher-quality cameras will become more, but it will be worth the cost if it is a hobby that your child enjoys. As he or she learns more about photography, you'll also probably want to buy cameras that have more user functions. When they are small, there is no need to have these functions on the camera, you'll want a strictly point-and-shoot camera at that stage.

One of the nicest things about having digital cameras everywhere these days, is that they are no longer expensive. Over the last couple of years, the price of a children's digital camera has dropped to under , while a camera that is suitable for teenagers and even young adults can be had for under 0. So if you have a child who seems to have an aptitude, or an interest, in photography, go ahead and search out the perfect digital camera for them and let them begin capturing those Kodak moments.

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Top 10 Must Ask Questions for Your Wedding Photographer

During every consultation with a potential client, the bride opens her wedding organizer and flips to her copy of the ten most important questions to ask a wedding photographer.

No question is a bad question. I'll politely answer any question she asks. But these top-ten-lists printed in wedding magazines don't go far enough. So, take your list of ten questions and add a few more that I've written in this article. They will greatly improve the information you get from photographers.

Do you accept family portrait lists?

Every photographer should accept this list. It's essential to accomplishing the job you've hired him for. Write down the name of every family member to appear in each portrait. Review the list with your photographer, and he'll tell you how much time will be needed to take every picture.

Do you carry liability insurance? Every wedding vendor should have a minimum million liability policy. This insurance covers accidents or damage the photographer may cause while working. You don't want to end up responsible for their damage. Protect yourself.

Will you make changes to the contract?

Many photographers object to changing their contracts for any reason. You don't have to work with them. Never sign an agreement that you're uncomfortable with. I suggest the following list of additions to every photography contact.

1. The photographer you are hiring should be named explicitly as the photographer who will photograph your wedding.

2. The contract should list any prepayment as a deposit. It should not say retainer. In some states, you may have a difficult time being refunded a retainer if the photographer fails to perform the contract.

3. You should provide limitations on things he shouldn't photograph, such as the bride or groom undressed.

4. If you're receiving digital negatives in the package, you'll need the photographer to grant you a copyright license to use the digital files for unlimited personal printing.

5. The contract will have a "Failure to Perform" section. It should state that you are entitled to a full refund of all money paid, including the deposit, should the photographer not photograph your wedding.

How do you provide wedding proofs?

Few photographers provide printed proofs anymore. Every photographer I know posts the photographs in a private web gallery or mails a DVD to the client. I do both. The web gallery accepts print orders from the couple and their wedding guests, and the DVD includes all of the photographs in a printable format.

How long will the wedding photographs be online? Every service is different. They should be online for a minimum of one year.

What file format do you shoot?

Every professional photographer will use the RAW setting, which gives the client the best possible results. This file format captures 4,096 levels of color per channel. The JPEG format, used in every point and shoot camera, captures 256 levels. That's a massive difference in the subtleties of color tone within an object.

RAW has the greatest dynamic range, which means you'll see a lot of detail in the brightest and darkest areas of a photograph.

Does your rate include any photo editing?

Anything is possible when your photographer has great digital editing skills. But don't count on it being free. Editing is a very extensive process that often costs more because of the time that is involved.

As part of the photographer's day-rate, he should include a RAW conversion. This means that the photographer opens each RAW file and adjusts all of the settings to create a nicest printable photograph. It will improve the skin tones, contrast and sharpness of the photographs.

Many clients think the conversions look so wonderful that they can't suggest any other changes. RAW conversions create proofs that blow away proofs made from film.

Your tab will start adding up when you ask the photographer to change things about your appearance. Want a different hair color? I can do it. Want a digital nose job? No problem. It's cheaper than plastic surgery.

You can save money. Ask your photographer to provide free editing with your album order. I do this as part of my regular service. I will make any edit to an album print that the client requests at no additional charge.

Do you provide digital negatives?

Selling the digital negatives is a very contentious issue among professionals. Photographers never gave film negatives to the client without charging a bundle. Since digital files are the same thing as negatives, many photographers charge upwards of ,000 for them. So, the couple is forced into buying an album or prints if they ever want to hold their photographs.

Younger photographers, including myself, realize that the market has changed. Wedding clients demand that they receive the digital negatives as part of the day-rate package. I agree with them.

I give my clients the digital negatives, and they still spend plenty of money on the new, innovative wedding albums and other products. My clients are happy, and my business prospers.

Do you grant a copyright license to print from the disc?

Why pay for the disc if you're not allowed to use it? Ask to receive a copyright license to use the disc for personal use. Photographers won't sell you the copyrights, but they will grant you the license to print from the disc. You could even choose to make your own album. I always give my wedding clients the license.

How long do you archive the client's files?

Digital image files are huge. They quickly fill hard drives, and some photographers won't spend the money to save years of photographs. The photographer should tell you how long he archives the files before deleting them.

Do you print on exclusively on real photography paper?

If you know nothing about photography and want a high-quality, life-long lasting print, then ask your photographer to print on Fuji or Kodak digital papers with a Lustre finish

These two brands of paper look identical. The brand you receive will depend on the professional lab where your photographer orders his prints. They will last for your lifetime. That's much longer than your parent's wedding prints, which have probably faded in their album already.

The Lustre finish has a fine sheen. It's not glossy, nor is it matte. The colors really pop, and it resists fingerprints and water droplets. If you ever spill water on a print, drain it off and air dry. Don't dab or wipe it, and you might save the print.

What is included in the album rate?

The price should include a fixed number of pages and photographs. The photographer should edit the photographs to your satisfaction.

If you're receiving a coffee table book with a unique layout, you should request final approval before printing.

Don't allow fake photo paper in an album. Albums with rigid pages most likely have real photography paper. If the album has flexible pages, then it's probably a fake photo paper. This is nothing more than coated cardboard designed to imitate the real thing. It will fail in your lifetime. I've seen interior folds fade within a few months.

Many coffee table books, however, use real photo paper. Make sure the photographer knows what he is selling you.

Copyright Rich Dutchman 2010

Article may be reprinted in its entirety with proper crediting to the author.

Rich Dutchman's wedding photography offers the right balance between photojournalism and classic wedding elements. After ten years and 400 weddings, Rich has learned that every couple's taste is different. He partners with his clients and creates imagery that exceeds their desires. Clients always receive high-resolution digital files of every photograph. Rich photographs weddings in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and all destinations. You may reach him at his wedding photo advice blog [http://www.weddingphotoadvice.com].